How My Dyson Vacuum is Like a Web Project

posted by: Gary Galvin

Yesterday afternoon was a day to get our house in order. After a busy weekend with home projects, playing with the kids and dog the house needs a good cleaning. My wife and I split up the chores and yesterday I had to vacuum the house. Quite honestly, I enjoy vacuuming the house and the reason is I can see the results of how much dirt and dog hair the vacuum picks up.

Dyson Vacuum Shows the Results

As I was vacuuming the house I began to immediately think that the reasons why everyone likes a Dyson vacuum are that it truly does a great job and that you can see the results. Instead of a vacuum bag the Dyson has a plastic container that you can see through and see all the dirt you pick up. So as I was vacuuming the house I began to think about how successful Dyson is and their positive word of mouth. I then began to relate that to our industry and as well as to Galvin. In theory a vacuum can just be a commodity – you can buy them anywhere and price is a decision factor. But Dyson showcases that they are not a commodity but rather a high end vacuum that will pick up much more dirt and vacuum then any other vacuum. Then they show the results by showing you the dirt that you picked up.


“A professional service company becomes a commodity when the skill set, ideas and solutions cannot be valued or visualized. As a result, the only part a prospect can see is the price and then bases their decision on that alone.”

This relates to the web and software industry because our industry could be considered a commodity. Over the years I have learned that you can get your web or software project done by anyone within our area. “If all you want is a vacuum then go spend $19.99 at Wal-Mart” is just like saying “if all you want is a website then you need to shop around because there are a lot of freelancers who will do it for much cheaper”. A professional service company becomes a commodity when the skill set, ideas and solutions cannot be valued or visualized. As a result, the only part a prospect can see is the price and then bases their decision on that alone.

Talk is cheap. For Galvin Creative Technologies to proclaim great service and great delivery we have to back that up with showing the results. The Dyson shows you the dirt you just collected and we show you the results by accurate budgeting and forecasting, approved use cases, constant communication, updated project plans, updated work break down structures, weekly status reports, an issue log and then the end product. With a vacuum that uses a vacuum bag to collect dirt you can only assume and hope the vacuum is working and with a web project if you are not getting weekly communications and updated documents you can only assume the project is being done properly.

Date Posted

Oct 12/09

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0

Posted in Galvin Processes |

Estimating Website Projects

posted by: Gary Galvin

Oftentimes we are invited into an opportunity after the prospect has already reviewed several proposals. I see them scratching their head and asking why the prices they currently have from other web providers are so different in range or they tell me they do now know what they will be getting. In a sales cycle this is an issue but I won’t cover that now. But the issue I want to cover is the lack of understanding the clients requirements and the level of effort (billable hours) it takes to complete that work.

Here are few points I want to share to ease this pain.

  • Listen to your client about their wants.
  • Don’t be so quick to push a technology because it is a fad. Make sure you understand their business processes and make them a pioneer.
  • Don’t fix bid it until all requirements are defined but at least give the client a calculated price range
  • Sit down with the client to make sure they understand the requirements and price associated with that.

    • Date Posted

    Sep 29/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Development, Discovery |

    Wall Street Journal’s Web Watch

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    I wanted to share with you Wall Street Journal’s Web Watch by Laura Lorber.
    - OneBiz.com
    - Zapproved.com
    - Outright.com
    - Angelsoft.com
    - OnStartups.com
    - The Entrepreneurial Mind by DrJeffCornwall.com
    - Startable.com
    - TheFunded.com

    Date Posted

    Sep 28/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in New Technology |

    Leadership is an Art

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    Leadershipisanart cover Leadership is an Art

    A friend of mine mailed me a copy of “Leadership is an Art”, by Max De Pree. It is a short read but very inspirational and informative. I got through the first couple chapters and I feel compelled to list some of the points I find important. This list is only from the first couple chapters. As I read on I will try to share more with you.

  • Leaders owe a clear statement of the values of the organization
  • They need to identify, develop and nurture future leaders
  • Create a leadership environment
  • Leaders are obligated to provide and maintain momentum
  • Momentum comes from a clear vision of what the corporation ought to be, from a well-thought-out strategy to achieve that vision, and from carefully conceived and communicated directions and plans that enable everyone to participate and be publicly accountable in achieving those plans.
  • Participative Management – it begins with a belief in the potential of people
  • Respect People
  • Understand that what we believe precedes policy and practice
  • Understand the respective role of relationship of contractual agreements and covenants
  • Understand that relationships count more than structure
  • Leaders must arrange for involvement on everybody’s part

    • Date Posted

    Sep 28/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies |

    Technology is an Accelerator: Be a Pioneer and Not a Follower

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    A friend of mine sent me the Executive Book Summary of Jim Collins book “Good to Great”. One area of the summary discusses “technology is an accelerator”. Collins explains that “good-to-great companies do not jump on technological bandwagons or chase after fads. They determine what technology makes the most sense for them, then pioneer its application.”

    Tight rolled pants was a fad we all followed.

    Tight rolled pants was a fad we all followed.

    Define Your Requirements
    When making a technology decision you must first determine your business requirements. When we engage into an application development project our first group of deliverables consists of a functional requirements document. This document outlines the functional requirements necessary to the business processes. When this is done first then it makes decisions and budgets much more accurate and profitable. But typically we see companies following “fads and bandwagons” of new and popular technology. They use these technology fads because their competition is or they were sold incorrectly. As a result poor decisions result in lost profits. But when you instead become a pioneer in the application you are accelerating your momentum for for success. You are defining the requirements and the direction for your business.

    Don’t Overreact to New Technology
    Collins states that “leaders of good-to-great companies respond with thoughtfulness and creativity, driven by a compulsion to turn unrealized potential into results. They do not take reactionary measures, defining strategy in response to what others are doing. They act in terms of what they want to create, and how to improve their companies, relative to an absolute standard of excellence“. Don’t let the technology fads overwhelm you. Instead, know the direction of your business and the technology can be created to enhance that. A client of ours shopped for ERP software packages to run their business. Because of the complexity of their business and because they were first to market with a product they determined to custom build the application based on their specific business requirements. As a result, not only are they a leader in the market because of their product but their competitive advantage has become their application and how their business runs on it. Now, their competition is coming to them requesting their software to be implemented into their business. They have become the pioneer and leader because they did not follow a fad or jump on certain bandwagons. They are growing because they know the direction their business needs to take and they have defined the application to support it.

    Why Are You Joining the Social Media Fad?
    In another document supplied to me called “How Clients Buy” published by RainToday.com it indicates that social media/online communities are near the bottom of the list of what influences companies to buy professional services. I agree and disagree with this statement. I disagree with it because social media/online communities help create popularity which generates brand awareness and familiarity, which happens to be the most popular way clients buy professional services. So social media/online communities can help get your foot in the door but it can’t close the deal which why I agree with the statement. Don’t hide behind social media/online communities. Not all of your buyers on there or even worse the wrong buyers are there. salesforce logo Technology is an Accelerator: Be a Pioneer and Not a Follower
    Have a specific strategy with measurables. We use SalesForce to measure all of our activity, including that on social media sites. So I know exactly how profitable our business is from online activity as well as how much time we should be spending in those communities or what online social activity I need to improve.

    Date Posted

    Sep 28/09

    Comments

    1

    Posted in Application Development, Business Strategies, New Technology |

    Better Content for a Better Experience

    posted by: Kiley LoCascio

    Motion Type video for 51st Annual Grammy Awards ad campaign.

    Motion Type video for 51st Annual Grammy Awards ad campaign.


    Following up on Gary’s post about the rigorous processes we go through in the course of a project and how project management is so important to this process, I wanted to touch on the subject of content and how important it is to design.

    Content comes in many forms in the context of interface design. It gives users a sense of what the site is about through navigation, provides direction in the form of buttons, confirms actions inside interactive forms and can be seen as imagery together with main body copy. All of these forms of content are used to strengthen the overall user experience and give the site meaning and validity. 

    So why is content important to design?
    In the beginning of a project, content is considered to construct site-maps and put together functional diagrams. After that there can be a disconnect of what specific ideas and information the site needs to convey. Content can get pushed to the end of a project because the client wants to focus on the structure and overall project plan. This can eventually bring the project to a standstill. Designers need content at the beginning of the project because we use it to plan the way users interact with the site (wireframes), to create a consistent and useable hierarchy and most importantly, to make sure the information that will accomplish the client’s goals is presented in the best way possible. 

    Solutions
    So what are some things we can do to insure that content is given the attention it deserves? First of all, it is the job of the designer to educate the client and the project manager of the importance that content plays in the overall objective of the site. More specifically, we as a team can plan out the process in the early stages of the project so it has the best chance for success.

    1. Initial Discussion
    Before the wireframes are created, there should be a discussion over the content of the site that involves the client, copy writer, the designer and project manager. Ideally, this discussion should be in three parts:
    a ) What content do we have and what are we using or throwing out?
    b ) What are the new goals and what is the main message for the website?
    c ) What imagery, charts or specific functionality do we need to help convey the new goals and new message?

    2. Outline of Content for All Pages
    A content outline of each page of the website should be created not only to keep track of what content is on-hand and what is still needed, but also so that all parties know what to expect when the website is developed. This insures smaller more-specific goals are met.

    3. Internal Collaboration
    A discussion should take place with project managers, developers and designers over what will be presented to the client in the initial comps.  What content can be used in the initial design comps to convey the meaning and functionality of each element? This communication will give designers the knowledge to best design for usability and in-turn will insure developers implement the interface correctly.
     
    4. Content & Design Audit
    After the design is implemented and content has been developed, an audit should be done for all pages of the site. This audit involves making sure the design is supporting the content and that the content is fresh and easily navigated. Is this page conveying what we intended? Do we need a different call-out to bring importance to a certain event? Is the homepage talking to the intended audience, and do we need a call-to-action? These are all questions that need to be answered before a site is launched.

    Conclusion
    Content is a key ingredient to building a successful website. It is important to the validity of the site as well as the usability and success of its design. Therefore, it should be addressed in the beginning of the design phase. Creating good content requires collaboration throughout the project with the client and development teams to insure all expectations are met and goals are reached.

    Date Posted

    Sep 22/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies, Design, Galvin Processes, Interface Design, User Experience Design, Website Marketing |

    Proper Project Management in Web and Software Development

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    This morning I ran into a couple friends at a networking event and we got into a conversation about the importance of project management processes in a web and software development project. The best comment I heard from the conversation was “…it’s not so much the end product as it is the means of getting there.” On my way back to the office it got me thinking about our processes and the advantage we have in the web and software development market.

    We are well aware that our industry is fragmented. There are many web and software development companies within the Indianapolis area. We can all do great designs, solid infrastructures and proper coding but we honestly feel that at Galvin Creative Technologies we can set ourselves apart with our project management processes. We truly think of ourselves as more of a professional services company opposed to just a web and software development company. We value the relationship, the budget and the timeline of the web or software project.


    “you guys should write a book on your processes.”

    Two weeks ago I was visiting a client and I stopped by one of our contacts office and asked him how things are coming along with the project. His comment was music to my ears. He said “you guys should write a book on your processes.” He was thrilled with the amount of detail that was involved. He went on to say that he knows exactly where we are with budget, timeline and tasks. Then just last week we helped the Secretary of State’s office develop and launch their Rethinking Redistricting website. What should have been a two month project got done in two in a half weeks and came in well under budget. It was a project that came to us quickly with a very tight deadline and a strict budget. Our project managers put together a two week timeline, while not shortcutting any of our processes, then accurately defined the requirements, then developed it and we nailed it.


    What should have been a two month project got done in two in a half weeks and came in well under budget.

    In our six years of business I specifically look back at how we have grown over the past two years and what we have learned. We experienced the pain of not managing a project correctly and we have experienced the pain of not allocating our resources. But before things got out of hand we knew exactly where we had to improve and began to invest in our processes, business analysis and project management. Now, our projects are on time and within budget. Tom Schaetzle, our VP of Professional Services, has implemented very rigid project disciplines for Galvin Creative Technologies and the projects we develop.

    Date Posted

    Sep 16/09

    Comments

    2

    Posted in Galvin Processes | Keywords , , |

    Stay Professional with Text Messaging in Business

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    Text Messaging in Business

    I just read an article from Marketing Profs on “Cures for Eight Common Small-Marketing-Firm Ailments”

    Rule #6 was “Don’t include text-message abbreviations, typos, poor grammar, and other mistakes in written communications” and it got me thinking about how powerful text messaging has become in the business community. I’m not exactly enjoying it but it seems to be something I have to adapt to. Looking back over the past year I have been able to setup appointments and even close deals via text messaging and now I am beginning to hear clients say “just text me that”.

    Text messaging is becoming a necessity in business just like email is but when I read the advice about watching the poor grammar or avoiding abbreviations I could not agree more. In professional emails I am beginning to see “r” instead of “are”, “u” instead of “you” or “L8R” instead of “Sincerely”. As a society I love the fact that we can communicate quickly but stay professional and polite. Don’t treat the business community like a few friends planning a Saturday night.

    Date Posted

    Sep 15/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies | Keywords , |

    The Seed

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

    He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.”The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you.

    I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

    One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story.. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown.. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

    Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
    Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however… He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil – He so wanted the seed to grow.

    A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot.

    But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.
    He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

    When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO.
    “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”
    All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.

    Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!” When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Jim told him the story.

    The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
    His name is Jim!” Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed..

    “How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.

    Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow.
    All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!”

    * If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
    * If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
    * If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
    * If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
    * If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
    * If you plant hard work, you will reap success
    * If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
    * If you plant faith in God, you will reap a harvest

    So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later…
    “Whatever You Give To Life, Life Will Give Back To You” “Whatsoever a man seweth; that he shall also reap.”

    Date Posted

    Jul 27/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Uncategorized |

    The Importance of Wireframes

    posted by: Kiley LoCascio

    I read an article the other day about how important the wire-framing stage is to web development. It was really good timing because we are currently in this phase with one of our projects. This particular client is simply interested in seeing complete design compositions, skipping the wire-framing stage alltogether. So, I thought it would be very beneficial to discuss this phase more in-depth.

    Wireframe

    Paul Boag writes about the benefits of hand-drawn wireframes in The 7 Wonders of Wireframes and that many can be done in a small amount of time. More importantly, I think, he identifies the key reasons of why this stage is so successful:

    1. Improves Team Work
    Wire-framing brings together all members of the team. These discussions help manage roles, responsibilities and scope.

    2. Better Communication
    This stage not only improves team work but it also makes the subsequent steps in the project run much smoother by bringing developers and designers together early on in the project.

    3. Engages Our Clients
    By including our clients in the wire-framing step we can educate them on all aspects of web development; from key terms to technologies utilized. This also increases the chance of meeting client expectations and goals early on in the project.

    4. More Choices
    Because wireframes are easy and fast to produce we can show more options at this phase and inevitably have the best result at the design phase.

    5. A Testing Stage
    A wireframe is the visual representation of our textual “use cases”. A “use case” documents the flow and functionality of key elements on a page. We can use wireframes and “use cases” to internally test how these key components should function.

    6. Easier to Rework
    Through the use of wireframes our clients can start to see how the site will be laid out. Since they are much faster to produce than design compositions, many more changes and tweaks can be done at this stage without a significant amount of rework.

    7. Keeps Projects Within Budget
    Wireframes bring together our teams, improve communication with clients and are easily changed and reworked. With all of these important factors projects can run smoothly and more efficiently to save time and costs.

    Finally, it is our job to educate clients on how and why we have these processes. That even though this stage can be a bit slow and visually unexciting, it is advantageous to the end result. It is crucial in the beginning to step back from any design aesthetics and plan the best flow, hierarchy and functionality for each project.

    Date Posted

    Jul 13/09

    Comments

    1

    Posted in Business Development, Galvin Processes, New Technology, User Experience Design |

    Web development blogs and search engine marketing blogs

    posted by: Travis A. Moser

    I’m sure you’re already aware of the benefits of following web development and search engine marketing blogs over reading books on the industries—keeping up on breaking trends that haven’t made it into books yet, getting quick tips, gaining useful information quickly in the little chunks of time when you don’t have enough time to sit down and read a book, etc…. One of the major downsides with blogs is the difficulty of finding useful, accurate information. So I’ve listed the ones that I’ve been following for a while in hopes that you may find a few that you’d find helpful. I started out with a lot more than this, but my google reader was unmanageable. I used google reader’s “trends” feature to weed out the feeds that I read the least or that posted too rarely (or too frequently).

    Search Engine Marketing:

    Web Development

    Date Posted

    Jun 15/09

    Comments

    1

    Posted in Application Development, Design, Interface Design, User Experience Design, Website Marketing |

    A Client Service Lesson From My Auto Shop

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    I bought my car from a Chrysler dealership and I have always taken it there for routine maintenance.  My wife, on the other hand, takes her car to Joe’s Auto Service in Carmel, IN and is always imporessed with the service and how they treat her.  So I decided to start taking my car to Joe’s.  Joe’s is higher priced but they understand they are in a fragmented market with loads of competition so to set themselves apart they go above and beyond to treat me well, call me by my first name and recognize my voice on the phone.

    So as I think about the Galvin Creative Technologies business strategy I am often confronted with the fact that our rates are higher than others but I validate it with three things – communication, communication, communication.  During a project it is imperative to communicate regularly throughout a project but once a project is complete our client services team steps in.  Yes, we have a full dedicated client services team which is committed to the ongoing success of our relationship with the client.  When you call you will talk to someone who is ready to work with you and our hope is that they treat you as well as Joe’s Auto Service treats my wife and I.

    Date Posted

    May 26/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies | Keywords , , |

    Terre Haute Tribune-Star Honors the New Sisters of Providence Website

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    Terre Haute Tribune-Star

    Sisters of Providence, located in Terre Haute, IN, gets their website design and developed by Galvin Creative Technologies.

    Sisters of Providence, located in Terre Haute, IN, gets their website design and developed by Galvin Creative Technologies.

    Today I was visiting my in-laws in Terre Haute, IN and had some time to read the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.  I was thrilled to see an article about the new Sisters of Providence website that we helped architect and develop.  It truly was a pleasure working with the Sisters of Providence and their 13 websites.  Galvin Creative Technologies developed a complete content management system which allows the Sisters to maintain every aspect of all their websites.  In addition, the site has eCommerce, ability to obtain donations, event publishing and so much more.

    You can read the article on the TribStar.com web site.

    You can visit the Sisters of Providence site at www.sistersofprovidence.org

    Date Posted

    May 16/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies, Design | Keywords , , , , , , |

    The New MyCarbonPledge.com

    posted by: Kiley LoCascio

    We recently launched one of our newest projects, MyCarbonPledge.com. My Carbon Pledge is an initiative of the Indianapolis Zoo to inform the public about the deleterious effects of carbon gas emissions on our ecosystems and wildlife habitats. The zoo’s efforts to date have mainly centered on the polar bear. As the projections show, two thirds of their population will be gone by the year 2050 due to the loss of Arctic sea ice. MyCarbonPledge.com is at the heart of this campaign, allowing the community to become actively involved in fighting carbon emissions. My Carbon Pledge’s first launch was on Earth Day 2008 and promoted the switch of incandescent light bulbs to CFL bulbs. This first launch turned out to be quite a success with roughly 55,000 bulbs pledged for a total of 8,250,000 lbs of CO2 emissions saved. The zoo then came to us with a new campaign to continue this cause.

    my carbon pledge

    my carbon pledge

    This resulted in the new, redesigned and restructured MyCarbonPledge.com. The goal for this year’s pledge was to get people to unplug their unused appliances, while still honoring last year’s pledge of switching to CFL bulbs. The idea was that even though you are not using the appliance there are still carbon gasses being emitted due to energy consumption while it’s plugged in, something that is known as “phantom power”. It is estimated that this simple step can reduce CO2 emissions by 1% and in turn further help sustain the Arctic sea ice and wildlife.

    There were two main goals for the 2009 MyCarbonPledge website redesign: 1) market the new message and 2) redesign and reorganize the site to make it more usable. These goals would utilize web development standards, modern technologies and communication design.

    my carbon pledge

    By organizing the content better and streamlining the wireframe we were able to strengthen the overall usability of the site. The previous homepage had too much information and the hierarchy wasn’t clearly identified. The new design utilizes a grid system that clearly defines the different sections and allows the user’s eyes to move down the page with ease. The user can still pledge from the homepage as before, but the new pledge and login overlays allow for a cleaner interface. The idea being that the cleaner the interface, the more impact the call-to-action could ultimately have. The new design gives character to the brand evoking playfulness and personality. We created more contrast between the colors and used a dramatic background to give depth and create an environment for the site.

    The different sections of the website were also streamlined. The green articles, resources and other links were not well organized in the sitemap. Therefore, users were not getting the information they needed. Thus more attention was paid to calling out these sections inside the site to help users get more excited about the entire campaign. Lastly, we implemented a social media strategy to help get their message out to the public.

    The site launched on Earth Day 2009 and has already received 440+ pledges. This project has not only fashioned a business relationship at the Indianapolis Zoo, but is also something we are proud to be associated with. Pledge what you can, and we hope you enjoy the site.

    Date Posted

    May 12/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies, Design, Discovery, Interface Design, User Experience Design, Website Marketing | Keywords , , , |

    The $300 Million Button – Better Ecommerce UI

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    brand The $300 Million Button Better Ecommerce UI

    This evening I read a great article by Jared M. Spool of User Interface Engineering about the importance of the check out process in an eCommerce website.  All the shopper wants to do is buy from you so don’t make it difficult on them.  I wanted to share this article with you.  Enjoy!!

    Read Article

    Date Posted

    May 10/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Design, Ecommerce, Interface Design | Keywords , , |

    Giving Back by Developing Websites

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    Throughout my life I have been very fortunate with the blessings and gifts I have received that have put me in the position I am currently in.  My parents, my education and my community have been an instrumental part.  As a business owner I believe that it is just as important to make an impact within our community by giving back via our talents and services – designing and developing websites.  I have always lived by the fact that the same hole you give through is the same size hole you receive through.  It is our mission to provide one pro-bono project to an organization of our choosing each quarter.  To date Galvin has donated in-kind hours totaling over $20,000.  In a tough economic enviorment this is a challenge but it has only helped us grow.  The people we give our services too have been truly giving back to us by connecting us to other business owners and thought leaders within the area who we are then able to do business with.  Over the years we have worked on many pro-bono projects but just this year we have been fortunate enough to work with the Arthritis Foundation and their Jingle Bell Run, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Providence Cristo Rey High School, Catholic Business Exchange and Right to Life Indianapolis.  If your organization is interested in what we are able to provide please contact us and we will consider your organization.

    Date Posted

    May 04/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Development, Business Strategies | Keywords , , |

    Designing For Any Economy

    posted by: Kiley LoCascio

    I read this article in the opinion section of The New York Times the other day, and was very interested in the reactions from its readers. The article “Designing Through A Depression”, written by Alison Arieff, former editor in chief of Dwell, commanded a diverse range of comments that were either in agreement or overtly contentious.

    The article discussed the influence that frivolous design can have in a time where people are cutting back on many things they once thought were a necessity.  Expensive furnishings, extravagant tech-toys, and limited editions are still respected, but omitted by the consumer… and designers’ responsibilities will now focus on client goals rather then their own.

    A reader from the aforementioned article commented about his friend’s job designing dashboard instruments for General Motors. His friend had designed a speedometer that worked great at night, but was practically unusable in bright daylight.  He had said to his friend, “a great deal of time and effort has been expended to develop instruments which can be read easily and accurately under all conditions. Why don’t you put one of those in the new cars?” And his friend replied, “if we put the best possible speedometer in the cars today, what are we going to do for next year?”

    I wasn’t surprised with this reply. Yes, businesses walk a fine line between providing the latest and greatest products, while at the same time withholding certain advancements to maintain a long term product line-up. Companies will always have their priorities, but designers should have theirs as well. Designers need to make sure the client knows what they are investing in will make their brand strong for years to come.

    I believe the future of web design can be this bright. Ms. Arieff stated in her article that designers should aim for longer use and fewer materials. In my opinion, in this economy it also holds true for web development. While we might not build with raw materials, we do however build with ideas that shape what the end result will be. The product needs to be strategically planned for the long run; a website that exudes the brand, is communicating the goal and is easily updated.

    BuyAMeter

    BuyAMeter

    Smart design has now become a priority because it’s quick and to the point; allowing the user to have their experience and move on with their day. BuyAMeter.org is one example in the article which I believe she used to show design has its purpose no-matter what state the economy is in, and purhaps even more critical in its current state. This site has one goal; awareness. The goal is reached by the design and functionality working together. The newspaper visually represents the information and also is a cue on how to navigate the site. The content provides an interesting point-of-view and informs the user within seconds. This site is not functionally expensive, it has no chrome, but does its job; leaving a lasting impression on the user.

    Not every site is able to be as conceptually engaging, especially with consumer-based sites. No matter what the final soultion is or what the goals are, the process is the same. Web design isn’t a question of form over function; it is a question of using form to propel the function. As graphic designers our “purposeful pursuits” will be to produce something that is built to last.

    Date Posted

    Apr 27/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Strategies, Design, Interface Design, User Experience Design | Keywords , , , , , , |

    7 Blackberry Sales Rules I Live By

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    blackberry curve 7 Blackberry Sales Rules I Live By

    I have a Blackberry and I love it but here are a few rules on how to use it while on a sales call:

    1. DO take it on sales calls because you will need it.  It looks like you are unprepared if you leave it behind.
    2. DON’T leave the ringer on.
    3. DON’T ever take notes on it.  Although you are not but it looks like you could be texting or emailing.
    4. It’s OK to take it out of your pocket and put it on the table but put it to the side.  This sounds odd but it’s a business tool and looks professional. Just DON’T ever look at it.  This rule does not apply to iPhones.  Keep all iPhones tucked away in your pocket or bag unless you need to bring it out for a reason.
    5. If your prospect leaves the room for a moment DON’T check your email or voice mails because you don’t want them walking in on you.  Your mind is always on the prospect.
    6. When entering or leaving the building DON’T check email on it because you don’t want your prospect seeing you check your email because they will think something is more important.
    7. DON’T talk on the phone while entering or leaving the building for the same reason as #6.
    8. Use the calendar to set the next date right then and there.  Don’t wait to get back to the office.

    Date Posted

    Apr 22/09

    Comments

    0

    Posted in Business Development, Business Strategies | Keywords , |

    Technology vs. Dale Carnegie

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    Dale Carnegie Still Gets it Right

    Dale Carnegie knew what it took to build solid relationships and he never wrote an email

    In 1936 Dale Carnegie published “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and it is still a true classic today and for days to come.  I was first introduced to the Dale Carnegie methods by my brother David while I was in high school.  David can sell ice to an Eskimo and is always very personable and I always admired that.  During high school and college David kept on sharing Dale Carnegie’s advice and methods with me and kept encouraging me to read the book.  So finally I decided to buy the book right after my college graduation.  I remember being on the Greyhound and heading up to Detroit and I could not put the book down.  Although Dale Carnegie wrote about everything our parents taught us while growing up he takes it to the business world and explains how to develop meaningful and fruitful relationships.

    We have all been in those situations where we see an acquaintance in a public area and we are not sure if we should go up and say hello.  The thought crosses our mind of “maybe he doesn’t want to say hi to me”, “he won’t remember me”,  “he is more successful than me why would he want to talk with me”, or my favorite “I’ll just pretend I didn’t see him”.  But everyone loves to be said hi too.  Stick out your hand and say hello they won’t get mad at you and it can truly do wonders for you.  I can’t tell you how many quality business relationships I have created by just going up to someone and saying hello.  To be successful you have to work with people and really get to know them.  The only way to do that is to talk with them and continue the relationship.  Dale Carnegie says that the sweetest sound to everyone is their own name.  The best way to remember someone’s name is to look them straight in the eye and repeat it to them after you meet them.

    So how does technology compete with Dale Carnegie?  My theory is simple – make a call instead of sending an email, take someone to lunch instead of sending them a e-greeting, go up and say hello to someone instead of texting or tweeting then.  Although I believe in technology and I nurture it I don’t believe it can be more meaningful than a personal touch.  I am still a true believer in the basics of relationships – Put your hand out and shake the hand of the individual across from you.  But keep in mind that technology can help offset the personal touches and continue to improve the professional relationships.  Oftentimes I will be stuck at a traffic light and will think about a client or an old friend.  I will then send them a quick text, before the light turns green, wishing them a nice day.  I may read an article about a client and then send it to them via email.  Use a good balance of personal touches and technology and your relationships will grow.

    Date Posted

    Apr 20/09

    Comments

    1

    Posted in Business Development | Keywords , |

    The Home Hub Reinvented, I Miss Audrey

    posted by: Gary Galvin

    My first job out of college was with 3Com in Chicago, IL and I was part of a team that brought a new internet product to life – Audrey.  Audrey was to do for the home life what Palm Pilot did for the business life.  It was supposed to be the central hub for the home.  It had everyone’s calendar, email, browse the web, to-do list, you can leave notes, gather your favorite news, stocks and scores, view and store recipes and shop online.  We went to market in October 2000 and it sold for $499.  I remember being so excited to go to Best Buy and see it on the shelves and say to myself  “I helped build that”.  Heck, we even got on Oprah. Looking back this was a great first job out of college.  I got to live the dot-com boom, travel the country from dot-com start up to dot-com start up, stay in 5-star hotels, eat at fancy restaurants, work very late and long hours and most importantly I got to be a part of team that invented this product.  There were a lot of smart people on our team who came from all over the country to work on this.  I got to work with the channel team (I still miss those folks).  We designed and developed web channels so people could browse from cached website to website.

    Ergo Audrey

    Ergo Audrey

    But Audrey was short lived.  Shortly after launch the dot-com bust began.  We began to see our content providers go out of business one by one.  People began losing trust in the internet and were not buying Audrey.  But we felt the biggest issue was that we were ahead of the times.  Consumers were still buying buying their first computers and were getting online for the first time.  So buying a fancy internet appliance was not something conceivable and so 3Com cut Audrey and the Internet Appliance division.

    Verizon Hub

    Verizon Hub

    Just recently I began seeing TV commercials about Verizon Wireless’ new phone – the Verizon Hub.  I nearly jumped out of my chair when I saw the first commercial.  It was almost like seeing Audrey all over again.  I have to admit that although envious I am excited to see the Hub launch.  The Hub is meant to serve as the family hub – similar to Audrey’s approach.  Yes, Audrey was ahead of the times but I am convinced that it paved the way for products like The Hub and hopefully more to come in the future.  I also believe that everything happens for a reason so because of Audrey’s failure I have been able to start up my own business.  I learned a lot during my days at 3Com and I thank the guys at 3Com and especially Jen, Daniel and Chris for showing me the ropes, giving a rookie a chance and being a pretty darn good team.

    Date Posted

    Apr 06/09

    Comments

    3

    Posted in New Technology | Keywords , , , , , |